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W. H. BELKNAP.

RETENTION SPRING FOR UMB-RELLASi No. 252,990. Patented Ja11.31,1882.

NITE STATES PATENT QFFICE.

WILLIS H. BELKNAP, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

RETENTION-SPRING FOR UMBRELLAS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 252,990, dated January31, 1882.

Application filed October 7, 1881.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, WILLIs H. BELKNAP, of thecity of New York, county of New York, State of New York, have inventedcertain new and useful Improvements in Retention-Sprin gs for Umbrellas,of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to the springs of umbrellas and parasols securedin the sticks and adapted to retain the runner in position when theumbrella or parasol is open or closed.

It consistsin inclosing the springs ora springacting catch within alight metal case in such a manner that it is in condition to retain therunner as desired by merely fixing the casein a slot in the stick, theupper part of the case and the projecting catch being the only partsvisible when so fixed in place, thus producing a better retention deviceand saving considerable time in securing them in the stick over thepresent method, which consists in securing a wire spring in anirregular-formed slot in the stick, requiring considerable adjustmentand having an unsightly appearance when done.

Figure 1 of the accompanying drawingsrepresents a side elevation of myimproved retention device. Fig. 2 is a transverse section of the same,cut through the line 00 m. Fig. 3 is a side elevation with the sideofthe case removed. Fig.4isaplan view. Fig. 5 represents theform of'thesheet metal for the case before it is bent into shape. Figs. 6, 7, 8,and 9 are modifications.

The whole oft-he case is ofone piece of sheet metal cut out in the shapeshown at Fig. 5, and then by suitable formers bent to form a narrow box,having the sides a a, top (L in which is a slot through which the catch[2 projects, and the flange a to form the bottom and ends, andthe peaka, which is bent over and into the side a to hold the parts together, asshown at Figs.l and 2. The retention-catch I) is provided with a hole atits rear end and a lip, b, at its front end, which limits the extensionof it beyond the top a by coming in contact with the under side of thetop a of the case. Between the under side of the catch 1) and the bottomof the case is placed the wire spring 0. To form the pivot upon whichthe catch 1) turns, the sides a a of the case are forced inwardly (Nomodel.)

into the hole at the rear end ofthe catch. The case may befirst madecomplete, and the spring 0 and catch 1) passed through the slot in thetop of it, and the sides then forced into the pivot-hole in the catch,or the case may be completed, with the exception of turning down theside a, the punctures being formed in the sides for the catch-pivot, thespring 0 and catch b then placed in position and the side a closed downand held in place, as before described.

d represents part of an umbrella-stick, in which a slot is cut of theshape and size of the case, and the side a may be provided with two ormore pointed projections or spurs, a, to be pressed into the bottom ofthe slot in the stick to assist in holding the retention device inplace; but as an extra security I propose in most cases to passrivet-pins through the stick and through the holes a in the case.

Instead of pivoting the rear end of the catch 1) in the case it may beformed as shown at N, Fig. 6, rounded, so as to turn against the end andtop of the case when the front end of the catch is depressed.

In Figs. 1 and 2 my improved retention device is shown applied as abottom or thumb spring to hold the runner e in position when theumbrella or parasol is closed, and it is equally well adapted as a topspring to hold the umbrella or parasol open.

In substitution for the catch b and spring 0, the wire spring-catch fmay be used, of the form and placed in the case as shown at Fig. 7.

Another modification is shown at Figs. 8 and 9, in which a spiralspring, 9, is used in place of the spring 0, the case having acylindrical recess formed in it to hold the spiral spring, as clearlyshown. Fig. 8 is a side elevation, and Fig. 9 a plan view.

I do not claimbroadlyaspring-acting catch, in combination with aninclosing case, as a spring-retainer for umbrellas.

Having now described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure byLetters Patent, 1s

1. In a retention device for umbrellas and parasols,in combinatiomanarrow case having a slotted top, a catch projecting through the slotand adapted to turn at its rear end in the case, and a spring locatedunder the catch, substantially as and for the purpose hereinbefore Inwitness whereof I have hereunto set my set; forth. hand, at New York,county and State of New 10 2. In combination withaspring-acting catch,York, this 4th day of October, A. D. 1881. b, an inclosing case a a a aa therefor made 5 of asingle piece of sheet metal cut and formed WVILLISBELKh into a narrow box and provided with holding- In presence of--spurs a a substantially as 'hereinbefore set H. D. WILLIAMS,

forth. E. G. BAKER.

